Program Officer - Hawai'i

Organization Overview

Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) builds alliances that advance bold solutions to secure a just and resilient world for people and nature. We partner with philanthropy, community-based organizations, government, and academia to promote smart policies and robust public funding for the environment, climate resilience, and healthy neighborhoods. We manage complex, multi-year campaigns and grantmaking programs and fiscally sponsor projects that accelerate positive change. We subscribe to the belief that strategic philanthropy and thoughtful partnerships can achieve enduring equitable outcomes.

Since RLF’s founding 20+ years ago, we have partnered with philanthropies to protect more than five million acres of lands and waters and helped generate more than $30 billion in public funding for land and ocean conservation, climate resilience and equitable outdoor access. Our work has taught us that environmental success is fundamentally tied to social equity, community health, economic opportunity, and a strong democracy.

We are a multi-disciplinary team of political strategists’, coalition builders, fundraisers, grant makers, communicators, and administrative professionals intently focused on delivering results. We are headquartered in Sacramento California with staff distributed across the country. To learn more about Resources Legacy Fund, visit https://resourceslegacyfund.org.

Position Summary

Under the guidance of the Director of Environmental Equity and Justice (EEJ) and the Senior Program Officer for Hawai‘i, the Program Officer co-develops and leads EEJ initiatives in Hawai‘i aimed at building community capacity, ensuring equitable implementation of public funding, developing and supporting coalitions, advancing policy and systems change strategies, and facilitating community-led environmental equity and justice projects.

We seek a seasoned candidate with equity-focused policy expertise, coalition building experience, exceptional leadership and project management skills, and deep ties to Hawai‘i communities. This position is based in Hawai‘i and will require routine travel throughout the state, quarterly travel to California to meet with RLF colleagues, and limited domestic travel as needed to fulfill duties. This is an exempt position, and its duties are as follows:

• Develop and implement equity-centered programs in consultation with RLF leadership. Tasks include project management, research, policy analysis, strategic communications, grantmaking coalition-building, and advocacy. 
• Serve as lead for select projects in Hawai‘i, such as the EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, including overseeing design, outreach, sub-award processes, reporting, and compliance.
• Support RLF’s existing conservation programs in Hawai‘i, including: increasing public funding for natural resource stewardship and restoration; advancing the Koa Reforestation Partnership; and advancing the Holomua Marine Initiative.
• Manage a portfolio of public and private grants, contracts, and budgets.
• Design and implement outreach and communications strategies targeting priority audiences.
• Build partnerships and coalitions with community-based organizations, government agencies, elected officials, academic institutions, NGOs, and philanthropic organizations.
• Support fundraising to bring additional philanthropic resources to RLF Hawai‘i programs by identifying prospective funders, developing focused and compelling funder outreach and proposals documents, and in coordination with RLF leadership, meeting with prospective donors.
• Research new lines of work and develop program strategies in consultation with RLF leadership by conducting research, consulting with subject matter experts and partners, identifying funding sources, and developing concept notes and formal proposals.
• Develop and oversee monitoring and evaluation processes, including development and tracking of key metrics to demonstrate impact.
• Remain current on emerging issues and trends in the fields of environmental justice and equity, infrastructure, land use, public lands, conservation, water, climate change, and community resilience.
• Assist in creating materials for and presenting to the RLF Board, partners, and funders.
• Undertake special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Note: These qualifications are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, so if you have 75% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to apply. Experience can include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work and lived experiences that helped you to build the competencies, knowledge, and skills needed for this position. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

• Advanced degree and extensive expertise (7+ years) in public policy, philanthropy communications, environmental justice, natural resources, climate change or related fields.
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a consistent commitment to thoroughness and quality.
• Strong strategic skills. Ability to help craft and implement successful strategies to address complex environmental equity and natural resource issues.
• Communication and composition skills with the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources into lucid, cohesive, and succinct written work products.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to build trust-based relationships with communities and non-profit, governmental, and Indigenous-led organizations, as well as funders.
• Proven ability to manage high functioning direct reports and cross functional teams.
• Management of public grants. Federal grant experience is a plus.
• Experience seeking and securing philanthropic contributions.
• A professional network of relevant stakeholders.
• Self-directed in leading new bodies of work and highly collaborative in achieving outcomes.
• Capable of anticipating and responding rapidly to changing priorities, objectives, and situations.
• Ability to perform responsibilities with a high degree of judgment, discretion, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work in teams and across programs.

RLF Values

Every team member is expected to embody our values:

• Collaboration – We believe the key to achieving meaningful results and a productive workplace is rooted in humility —our ability to build effective relationships, listen deeply, respect different perspectives, and elevate new leaders.
• Equity – We value the insight, energy, and innovation of inclusive decision making. Our work seeks to elevate voices and build power within underrepresented communities to help advance a just and equitable future in which leadership reflects the diversity of the world we live in.
• Integrity – We are dedicated to our cause, genuine in our approach, and strive to cultivate a foundation of trust within our organization and with our partners. We believe humility and commitment to ongoing learning keeps us effective in our work.
• Creativity – We embrace a thoughtful, entrepreneurial spirit, seeking innovative ways to solve problems new and old. We are willing to take risks that the times and issues require to achieve lasting results.
• Excellence – We aspire to high standards of quality in everything we do—from internal operations to strategic program implementation. We are attentive to detail and persevere to deliver results on goals we share with funders, partners, and colleagues.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

RLF is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment free from discrimination, where all team members feel valued, respected, and included. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates, whatever their race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability status, religious or political affiliation, marital status, or any other dimension of diversity. We know that our work is enriched by the varied voices and perspectives of every staff and board member, so we are committed to making an earnest effort to recruit, welcome, train, develop, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. We believe that a diverse and inclusive culture expands our creative capacity to do our work and achieve greater outcomes for people and the natural world. We invite you to learn more about RLF’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion on our website.

Compensation and Benefits

Program Officer starting salary range is $127,000-157,000. Salary commensurate with related work experience and qualifications.

We have an alternate Fridays off work schedule and offer a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k plan with a 5% match, and generous paid time off. RLF also offers a technology allowance, student loan repayment assistance, the Calm app, mental health benefits and approximately 16 paid holidays per year.

To Apply

Please provide a resume and cover letter explaining how your skills fit this position.

Recruitment Schedule

June 10 – Recruitment launches

June 24  – Application deadline (applications received after this date may still be considered)

RLF participates in E-Verify, you can review the information here and here.